Requirements for food stamps in North Dakota are determined by the Department of Human Services (DHS). In addition to deciding food stamps requirements in ND, the DHS also distributes Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to applicants who qualify for the government-funded initiative. To qualify for food stamps benefits, potential beneficiaries must first meet income, citizenship and residency requirements, along with supplying the DHS with requested documentation for SNAP applications. Eligibility for food stamps in North Dakota also means abiding by the state-enforced work program guidelines. To learn more about how to qualify for food stamps in ND, review the below topics.
Learn About North Dakota Income Requirements for SNAP Benefits
Meeting income requirements for food stamps in ND are crucial to apply for and receive food stamps. In order to qualify for ND SNAP assistance, you must be a low-earning individual or part of a low-income household. North Dakota SNAP requirements for income are first determined by the current Federal Poverty Level, or FPL. You must understand your household composition and size to review the current income level charts, since the FPL considers the number of the family members in a household. If your income falls at or below the current FPL, you may qualify for food stamp assistance, but other financial factors must also be taken into consideration.
Knowing how to qualify for SNAP financially also means assessing your current resources. Countable resources as they apply to SNAP requirements in ND are broken down into two qualifying groups: applicants with bank account balances who do not have disabled or elderly household members and those who do. SNAP eligibility in North Dakota allows households with elderly and/or disabled family members to have slightly more countable resources than those who do not, so it is important to factor this into your income eligibly calculations when reviewing your qualifications. To learn more about the resource limits, download our guide.
Deductions play a part in determining SNAP qualifications in North Dakota and can help applicants remain under FPL thresholds prior to applying for benefits. Deductions for SNAP eligibility in ND, include: 20 percent of earned income, medical expenses for disabled or elderly members of the household, dependent care costs when needed for education work or training, child support that is legally owed and a percentage of the expense for shelter.
Learn About North Dakota Citizenship Requirements for SNAP Benefits
Food stamps requirements in North Dakota also strongly consider an applicant’s legal status in the country. To qualify for ND food stamp assistance, you must be either a qualified citizen of the U.S. or a noncitizen with documentation that proves your legal presence. The SNAP qualifications of noncitizens in North Dakota are subject for review by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS).
In addition to legal status, requirements for SNAP in ND include providing a valid Social Security Number (SSN) to the DHS upon application. Proof of Social Security Number is part of the qualifications for food stamps so that the state can confirm applicants’ identified properly and that no other recipients are collecting benefits in their names. For those applicants that cannot meet these North Dakota SNAP requirements, make sure to request an SSN at the Social Security Administration prior to applying for benefits and prepare proof of the filing for the DHS.
Once legal presence and an SSN are provided, the next qualification for SNAP eligibility is to provide proof of North Dakota residency. In order to receive food stamp assistance in ND, all applicants must show proof of residing within state borders through government identification documents and/or acceptable financial statements billed to the home.
Other SNAP Requirements You Must Meet in North Dakota
The process of how to qualify for food stamps in North Dakota also incorporates work requirements of petitioners. Currently, work-related food stamp assistance requirements mandate Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWDs) to work 20 hours per week to maintain eligibility for SNAP. If an ABAWD does not work up to 20 hours per week, he or she may be disqualified from the North Dakota SNAP program. The qualifications for SNAP work requirements also include job training program activities and volunteer or in-kind work. If a beneficiary falls below 20 hours per week of work, he or she is required to report the change to the DHS. These ND food stamp requirements, however, do not apply to everyone, as there are exemptions in place that should be reviewed prior to application.
Applicants Who Are Not Qualified for North Dakota SNAP Benefits
Certain applicants will not qualify for food stamps benefits in ND, even if they do meet all of the above requirements. Those who do not meet the requirements for food stamp assistance risk a denial of benefits. For example, students who are enrolled in school more than halftime cannot qualify for food stamp assistance, unless they meet the listed exceptions, like caring for dependents or working 20 or more hours per week. Felons with drug-related convictions do not qualify for ND SNAP benefits, although the state government is currently considering lifting this ban. To learn more about how to qualify, download our free guide.